The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-04

The cold nights of the past few days
parts of the State. In Palatka the Their
mometer has reached 81, and loss is in
evitable. What has come to us for two
winters in succession may come again
what 10 the remedy?
1t has been proved that we can grow
the best oranges in the world-it has
been proved that our groves are safe as
against cold-it ha- been proved that We
stand in no danger Of ruin from the in
sects which have dest royed the groves in
certain parts Of California, because our
occasional frosts are certain preserva-
tives from their unreasonable increase.
These things are amply proved by the ex-
pericuce which is conclusive to all except
the fool or the migratory liar. Yet it has
been also proved that fruit raising in
Florida may be improbable and ruinous
panics among growers must be provided
against. What shall we do to be saved:
We answer-the trouble is with the
fruit grower himself. Either he must
learn how to market bis fruit properly.
care for 1t properly and sell it to advan-
tage or he must sell ON the trees. The
Exchange is the best plan yet advanced
for the protection of the grower who is
80 ignorant of business that he cannot
pack his crop decently or sell it TO advan-
tage. Ignorance of business methods
will email loss in any enterprise, and
against this we can only protect him by
persistently trying to teach him his true
interest. For him an organization OF
fruit-growers directed as the Exchange
is will do much, but it cannot save extern
sive interests and millions Of capital from
heavy losses In the near future by its pres
emit metho de-. The business of the
grower is ended in November, and till
then his profits come in slowly hut more
certainly than in any other business
known among us. 1t may be taken for
granted that orange grOring is safe in
Florida.
IL the industry of oranle-growing is
safe in Florida il only remains that the
same rules be observed in harvesting and
selling as would be essential to the sue
cessful pursuit of any other business.
For this the grower must learn.
Ito prepare his crop properly for
market. In this, careful handling and
proper packing and marking is ALSO
lutely necessary.
2-The grower, situated as the major
ity undoubtedly are, can not also be a
speculatOr-he must gather his fruit
when it is ripe, and can not take the
chances which are liable to ruin him.
3-The majority of growers must cease
shipping to unknown parties who are
generally also irresponsible. Would any
body but an orange grower entrust thou
sands of dollars to a man of whom moth
ing Is known save that he had put his
name to a circular letter full of promises
Is it business?
If the growers will not take those ele-
mentary precautions necessary in every
energies to tn, invitation of buyers who
will pay cash for the fruit on tine trees.
! This will bring the consumer directly in
contact with the grower, and the latter
will know exactly what his fruit sells for
and get what is. promised.
These spectators may prepare prop
erly and keep their fruit any length of
time. Oranges property handled ,cHl
keep. Capt. John b. Cole, of Putnam
county, put his oranges last winter under
ten inches of dry grass IN the grOre, and
kept them perfectly sweet and gocd from
December to April; others have kept
them in the packing house from January
to June, and a thousand instances such
as these might be given.
Growers who would keep for better
sales must provide fer the proper care of
the fruit. Left on the tree, the growth
of the next spring is impeded and the
fruit is endangered. The future of our
most promising crop is safe, and if those
who grow it now are ruined, they mus,
lay the blame on their own ignorance OF
carelessness, not on the climate nor the
conditions incident to its gro,rth or trans
portotion.
One IF tho ynasf Dr0,rsrant